Cup



R.- JENNINGS.

CUP.

APPUCATION FILED MAR. 11. 192;.

Patented June 7, 1921.

rut 5mg; 7717:

A TTORNEYS UNITED STES RAY annnrncs, or LA GRANGE, vrrssoUaI.

CUP.

5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1921.

Application filed March 11,1921. Serial No. 451,472.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of La Grange, in the county of Lewis and State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cups, of whichthe following is a full, clear, andeX- act description. My inventionrelates to improvements in cups and it consists in the combinations,constructions, and arrangements herein descriped and claimed.

Anobject of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that is adapted to hold a liquid so that a person may drinktherefrom while in a reclining or recumbent position withoutinconvenience or discomfort and without spilling the liquid.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that has means operable to prevent the flow of a liquidtherefrom.

A further object of my invention is to providea device of the characterdescribed that is simple in construction and operation, and thoroughlyeffective for the purpose intended. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that is capable of being manufactured cheaply and is otherwisepractical commercially.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof 'thlS application, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the device,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another portion of the device, and

Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section through the device.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a receptacle or liquid containercomprising a lower member 1, that is preferably made of glass and hasthe form of an ordinary glass tumbler, and an upper member 2, that ispreferably made of a light metal, such as aluminum, and is preferablythreaded exteriorly at one open end thereof for engagement with thethreaded open upper end portion of the lower member 1 until the openupper end of the latter abuts. a transverse partition, 3 that isfirmlysecured within the upper member 2 considerably nearer to the lower endthereof than to its upper end, which is also open, as shown. In thepresent instance, I have shown both the lower member 1 and the uppermember 2 as being cylindrical although obviously they may be polygonal,elliptical, or other shape in sectlon, since it is only essential thatthe upper member fit; the lower member tightly so that liquid will notpass between the contiguous walls of the two members and so that the twomembers will not be likely to be disengaged accidentally.

The partition 3 is formed with an opening therethrough adjacent its edgeand for this opening a closure 5 is provided. The latter is hinged at 6to the upper side of the partition 3 and is normally maintained inclosed position by the action of a compression spring 7 that has one'endsecured to the upper side of the partition 3 so that the other endthereof reacts against an arm 8 having one end secured to the closure 5at the point of its hinged connection with the partition 3 so thatmovement of the arm 8 swings the closure 5 about the pintle of itshinge. I

The arm 8 is connected at its other end by a link 9 with one end of abell crank lever 10 that is fulcrumed at 11 on the inner wall of theupper member 2. The bell crank lever 10 carries at itsfree end a pushbutton 12 that projects through an opening 13 in the wall of the uppermember 2 exteriorly of the latter.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood, An apparent utility of thedevice is in a sick room where the patient is confined to bed. Theliquid to be drunk is placed within the tumbler 1 and the upper member 2is fitted thereon. The closure 5 is normally maintained in closedposition and the push but- 2 ton 12 is likewise normally maintained inextended position by the action of the compression spring/7. Thepush'button 12is moved inwardly by the pressure of a thumb or finger andthe closure 5 will be opened so that liquid may flow from the tumbler 1into the upper member 2 and thence to the mouth of the patient. Theopening movement of the closure 5 will be determined by the movement ofthe push button 12 and 'the closure will be instantly moved into closedposition When the Cpressure on the push button is removed. onsequently,the amount of liquid permitted to pass through the opening 4e may beregulated at Will by operation of the push button. In service, thedevice will be held in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 so that theliquid from the tumbler will flow along the inner Wall of the uppermember to the mouth of the patient and it is therefore not likely thatany of the liquid will be spilled. r

The device can be used Without discomtort or inconvenience to thepatient, and provides a simple, inexpensive device that is capable ofbeing satisfactorily used for the purpose intended. I 7

Obviously, I may provide many forms and modifications of the deviceillustrated Without departing from the spirit and scope of my inventionas set forth in the foregoing v disclosure and outlined moreParticularly in the appended claims. I therefore cone sider suchmodifications and adaptations as my own.

I may provide a packing or gasket 14: of any suitable material, such asrubber, secured to-tlie under surface of the closure 5 in any suitablemanner, as by means of a screw 15, to insure a liquid tight fit betvveethe closure and its seat.

I claim; a

1. A device of the character described comprisinga tumbler, amemberadapted to fit tightly over the, open upper end of the tumblerandtoextend thereabove, said member having a transverse partitionabutting the upperend of said tumbler so-as to provide a closuretherefor, said partition being formed With an opening therethrough, andmeans carried by said member for controlling the fioW of the liquid fromsaid tumbler through said opening in the partition.

2. A device of the character described comprising a tumbler, a memberadapted to fit tightly at one end thereof over the open upper end of thetumbler, said member having a transverse partition abutting. the upperend of the tumbler so as to provide a closure for the same, saidpartition being formed With an opening therethrough, a closure for saidopening, spring means for normally maintaining said closure in closedposition, and means extending exteriorly of the Wall of said member andoperable at Will for opening the second named closure.

3. A device of the character described comprising a tumbler, a memberadapted to fit tightly at one end thereofover the open upper end of thetumbler, said member having'a transverse partition abutting theupper endof the tumbler so as to provide a closure for the same, said partitionbeing formed with an opening therethrough, a closure for said opening,said closure being hinged to the partition, an arm rigidly secured tosaid second named closure for rocking the latter about its hinge, springmeans engaging the arm for yieldingly maintaining the second namedclosure inclosed position, a push button disposed in an opening throughthe Wall of said member, and a lever and link mechanism connecting saidpush button and said arm so that the second named closure can beoperated by op erating the push button.

- RAY JENNINGS.

